Kevin Ward

Kevin D. Ward, PhD

Director, Bachelors of Public Administration Program
Professor

Kevin Ward is a Professor and Director of the Public Affairs program at Seattle University.

Biography

Expertise: Kevin Ward is Professor and Director of the Public Affairs program at Seattle University. With a career spanning public policy, nonprofit advocacy, and national service, Kevin’s research and teaching focus on the intersection of the public and nonprofit sectors. His work examines how nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and policymakers work together to create sustainable, lasting change.

Brief bio: Shortly after earning his undergraduate degree, Kevin served two years in the national service program AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), which was a transformative experience. He then held several positions with nonprofit organizations in Colorado. He has worked as a researcher on large grants with the RAND Corporation and the Urban Institute. He holds a Ph.D. and MPA from the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado, Denver and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois.

Kevin Ward CV (PDF)

Education

  • Ph.D., Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver, 2011
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA), University of Colorado Denver, 2006
  • B.A. Economics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2002

Courses Taught

  • Bachelor of Public Affairs (BPA) program courses: Policy Analysis and Senior Synthesis.
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA) program courses: Policy Process and Capstone in Public Service.

"I teach courses that emphasize the process of defining problems, formulating or considering solutions, and making recommendations. In every class, I am energized by the issues that students choose to explore, and ultimately the solutions they propose. My students give me hope because I know they are working to address some of the most pressing issues facing our communities."

—Kevin D. Ward

Publications

Publications and Media

Kevin’s research interests include nonprofit lobbying and advocacy, national service programs such as AmeriCorps, and motivations of public and nonprofit employees. His research has appeared in Public Administration Review, Policy Studies Journal, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, American Review of Public Administration, International Public Management Journal, and several other top public administration journals. His Google Scholar profile can be found here. His essays and op-eds on national service have appeared in the Seattle Times and Huffington Post.